The Fine Art of Family Magazine

You may remember how a few months ago I visited Portobello Road’s famous antique markets in London, as I try to do every year, and told you how it’s an adventure that never ceases to inspire and amaze me. But it’s not the only part of this 2,000-year-old European city that I love to continually explore. There are several other hidden gems worth visiting, if you haven’t already, next time you’re in this lovely old town.

Among my favorites on my permanent itinerary are the London Silver Vaults (map it). These vaults were originally created in 1876 so the wealthy could safeguard the precious silver, jewelry and documents. Though the building above the vaults was badly bombed during WWII, the vaults themselves remained completely intact. Today, when you visit these underground steel-lined rooms, you’ll still find silver and jewelry and much much more sold by some 30 vendors, each set up in his or her own fully-furnished specialty shop within individual vaults.

Unlike Portobello Road, where you can purchase a unique item for $1 or $10,000, the London Silver Vaults carry more medium to higher priced goods, ranging from antique and modern jewelry, glass, ceramics, lamps, cigarette cases, china, ash trays, music stands and nearly any object you can think of that belongs in a home. Last time I was there, I bought a tiny cherub (an adorable angel with a bow and arrow). I’m not sure what exactly I’m going to do with it, but it was really sweet and very inexpensive. I was happy to give it a home.

Next, I would recommend stopping by Dukes Hotel on St. James Place (map it). London wouldn’t be London without having a martini (perhaps the best in town) at this 100-year-old establishment’s bar, the go-to watering hole of the fictional character James Bond (his famous line “shaken, not stirred” was supposedly inspired by this drink). The waiter comes over to our table with a rolling cart. Once you place our orders—Rod likes it with a twist, while I prefer it very dry with extra olives—the waiter begins this almost dance-like process to create our drinks, starting first with glazing the glass with vermouth by pouring it in then out (a true martini only has a hint of the stuff). Sitting there, watching this elaborate performance in this cozy, low-key environment, it’s easy to savor (literally, the martinis are delicious) the experience of being transported to another time and place.

Lastly, you must visit my favorite museum in the world: The Victoria & Albert Museum (pictured above, map it). It’s such a creatively stimulating place, especially for designers. When they have an exhibition, they don’t just feature  a few pieces from a specific time period, but rather they show everything they can find on the subject (be it clothing, jewelry, instruments, etc.), dating as far back as possible. Every time I go, I love to get lost in the glass, ceramic and pottery rooms, where I always find or learn something new.

The other thing about London is that it’s hard to walk down the street and not take in the history, which is everywhere. Buckingham Palace is on your right or Parliament is on your left. The whole of art of discovery on this invigorating journey as a tourist (and designer) never gets old. Not for me, anyways.

xox,

M

P.S. To celebrate this amazing city, we’ve designated this June 7th to 11th as LONDON WEEK. Check back for more stories on our favorite iconic places.

Published on June 6, 2010